Update at 4:50 p.m. — The Flood Watch has been cancelled.
Flood watch has been cancelled for the Baltimore/Washington metro area… While rain will continue at times through tonight, heavy flooding rains are no longer expected.
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 6, 2020
Earlier: Arlington County and surrounding areas are under a Flood Watch starting this afternoon.
The National Weather Service says 1-3 inches of rain are possible between now and Friday morning. The rain may be heavy at times and might cause flooding, according to forecasters.
More from NWS:
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING… THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR * PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND VIRGINIA… FROM 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING * MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF RAINFALL WILL OCCUR THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL POTENTIAL WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. * FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW LYING AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE, AND SOME SMALLER STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY EXCEED THEIR BANKS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. &&
A Flood Watch has been issued for parts of the area Thursday afternoon through early Friday morning. Multiple rounds of rainfall may eventually lead to some flooding. pic.twitter.com/nriwgRq0Q5
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 5, 2020
Nearby, the City of Falls Church is distributing free sandbags to residents ahead of the possible flooding.
A flood watch has been issued for our region starting Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Residents with homes at risk for flooding can pickup sandbags at the Property Yard (217 Gordon Rd.) tomorrow (2/6) from 7am-3pm. Details: https://t.co/HVqnPaXLhc pic.twitter.com/EWioLPbxTC
— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) February 5, 2020
Flickr pool photo by Erinn Shirley
